'I’ve spent more time with him than my wife since I’ve taken command. I believe that I was the luckiest battalion commander in the Army to have him as my command sergeant major.'

He added: 'While every soldier in this formation is extremely saddened by his loss, his Bobcats are doing exactly what he would expect of us: continuing on with the mission and taking the fight to the enemy. This man would do absolutely anything and everything to ensure his soldiers came home safely.'

In a statement, Representative Ron Barber, (D-Tucson), called Barreras a brave member of the United States Army.

U.S. Army soldier and POW Jessica Lynch, 19, a member of the 507th Maintenance Company, arrives on April 3 on a stretcher at the Ramstein US Air Base in Germany after her dramatic rescue in Iraq

Jessica Lynch, seen in this undated photo, was captured in 2003 when her convoy was ambushed in Iraq (left). She was rescued by a U.S. Special Operations unit which included Sgt. May. Barreras

'Command Sgt. Maj. Barreras's death is a reminder that
although the United States is winding down our combat role in
Afghanistan, we still have men and women who are placing themselves in
harm's way every day,' Barber said.

'I thank each one of them, as well
as their families, for their service and for their sacrifice.'